New version of Bike Doctor: Important update for any existing iPhone users!

This is important for anyone who has the first version of our iPhone app Bike Doctor on their iPhone. We are moving it over to new account, so you need to get the new copy! For a limited time only, you’ll be able to move to the new version for free and then we’ll have to bump up the price!

To download it, search the App Store for Bike Doctor 2 or follow this link: http://goo.gl/KhTKF

Why the change?

A long time ago, I approached app developer Ron Forrester with an idea for a great app for cyclists. I wanted to create an app that would provide easy, step-by-step, easy to follow instructions for looking after your bike yourself. The result was Bike Doctor and it had a fairly spectacular reception in the app store, getting featured by Apple on numerous occasions.

Zoom ahead a year and a half and Ron has decided that this isn’t something he wants to work on any more as he has too many large commitments elsewhere. (Totally understandable as he’s a pretty hot shot developer!)

We sat down together (via email – he’s in the US!) and we decided the best way forward was to launch a new version under my app store account. Unfortunately, Apple don’t provide a mechanism for moving users across. Therefore, we’d have to launch the new version for free and get as many people as we humanly possible can to move over so they are not left frustrated.

The good news is..

Over the past year and a half we’ve added a few new repairs to Bike Doctor, but nowhere near to what I’d wanted. I felt that users have trusted us to download the app and then we’ve not repaid their trust by adding lots of extra content.

That’s all about to change.

Now that the app is under my account name, I plan on having 40 repairs in the app by my birthday on the 16th of August.

I also really want the app to move forward dramatically in design.

If you get the new version, then we’ll be issuing frequent updates over the course of the next 3-6 weeks.

But doesn’t that mean those who haven’t paid get the app for free?

Yep – but that’s not really what’s important – the important thing is for old users to move over to the new version before we have to bump up the price.

Should you keep the fact that Bike Doctor 2 is currently free a secret or should you tell your friends to grab a copy while they can? I’d probably opt for the latter!

What about us Android users?

No need for Android users to panic – everything stay’s the same there! Though, we will be catching up with updates to that version too and hitting our 40 repairs target.

What can I do to help?

That’s very nice of you! Please grab the new copy and leave a review in the app store.

Any questions?

In other news…

I don’t tend to follow a lot of new product announcements, but Specialized have recently been ranting and raving about their 2013 range by revealing it to journalists over in Utah. For anyone looking for a Specialized road bike, now would be a good time to hit up some bargains – as the 2011 and 2012 range will no doubt come down in price.

In the Specialized mountain bikes range they are adding new carbon fibre forks that will be on the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon Evo R model. Carbon fibre forks have a big future on mountain bikes, thanks to their shock absorption. It’s interesting to see an increasing number of bike models using them.

The Specialized helmets will also be seeing some major overhauls in 2013. The Tactic helmet in particular, is said to be a big step up in comfort.

If you want to follow all the latest then it’s been reported on Bike Radar and Bike Rumor. Obviously, if there’s any products of particular interest to us London commuters then I’ll be getting on the reviews!

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